The proposed randomized controlled trial will evaluate the effects of treadmill training augmented with virtual reality on fall risk.

300 older adults with a history of falls will be recruited to participate in this study. This will include older adults (n=100), patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n=100), and patients with Parkinson's disease (PD)(n=100). Subjects will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (treadmill training with virtual reality) or to the active-control group (treadmill training without virtual reality). Each person will participate in a training program set in an outpatient setting 3 times per week for 6 weeks. Assessments will take place before, after, and 1 month and 6 months after the completion of the training.

The primary outcome measure of the study is fall rate. Participants will keep a falls calendar for 6 months post intervention. Each time the participant falls he/she will tick the date on the calendar. These calendars will be returned to the researchers once a month in a pre-addressed envelope.

Gait speed and gait variability under usual and dual task conditions and while negotiating physical obstacles will be measured. Participants will be asked to walk in a well-lit corridor under 3 conditions each of 1 minute: i) walking in a comfortable speed, ii) walking while subtracting 3s from a predefined number (dual task), iii) walking while negotiating two obstacles placed on the floor at specific locations. Spatial-temporal gait characteristics (e.g., gait speed (m/s), stride length (m), stride time (s), swing time (%), asymmetry, and step width (cm)) will be determined. Endurance will be assessed using the 2 Minute Walk Test.

Cognitive function will be assessed using a computerized neuropsychological test battery (Mindstreams, NeuroTrax Corp., NJ). In addition, we will also include standardized neuropsychological tests such as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); The Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Verbal Fluency test.

The Four Square Step Test (FSST), The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest) will be used to assess mobility. Community ambulation will be assessed using The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) and a tri-axial accelerometer (Axivity Ltd.) which will be worn by the participants for 7 days to quantify and monitor stepping and physical activity.

The SF-36 Health Survey, a generic self-report questionnaire designed to address health related quality of life will be used. Fear of Falling will be evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International.

The training will consist of walking on the treadmill while negotiating obstacles in a virtual reality simulation.Training will be provided3 times a week for a duration of 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions).

Other: TT+VR

subjects will be walking on a treadmill while negotiating virtual obstacles provided by a computer simulation. The virtual environment will consist of obstacles, different pathways, narrow corridors and distracters, requiring modulations of step amplitude in two planes (i.e., height and width) coordinated with walking behaviour. The speed, orientation, size, frequency of appearance and shape of the targets will be manipulated according to individual needs following a standardized protocol.

Other Name: training on a treadmill with virtual reality

Active Comparator: TT alone

The training will consist of walking on the treadmill 3 times a week for a duration of 6 weeks (total of 18 sessions).

Other: TT alone

The participants will walk on the treadmill, their gait speed over-ground will be measured at the beginning of each week of training. Progression will include increasing the duration of each of the walking bouts and increasing walking speed.

Other Name: treadmill training

Detailed Description:

A prospective, single blinded, parallel group, randomized controlled trial with 6 month follow-up will be employed to investigate the effects of treadmill training augmented with virtual reality on fall risk. The study will include 300 older participants who have experienced two or more falls in the previous 6 months. Participants will be randomized to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group will receive 18 sessions of Treadmill Training with Virtual Reality (TT+VR) and the active control comparison will receive 18 training sessions of treadmill training alone (TT) without the VR simulation All interventions will be delivered by therapists trained in the standard protocols. All subjects will be trained 3 times a week for 6 weeks, each session will last approximately 45 minutes.Training progression will be based on increasing both motor and cognitive challenges, individualized to the participant's level of performance.

Primary outcome measures:

The primary outcome measure of the study is fall rate for 6 months post intervention. Secondary outcome measures will include gait speed and gait variability under usual and dual task conditions and while negotiating physical obstacles will be measured. Endurance will be assessed using the 2 Minute Walk Test and mobility will be assessed using the Four Square Step Test (FSST), The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest). Community ambulation will be assessed using a tri-axial accelerometer ('Axivity' Ltd.)which will be worn by the participants for 7 days. Cognitive function will be assessed using a computerized neuropsychological test battery (Mindstreams, 'NeuroTrax' Corp., NJ) as well as standardized neuropsychological tests (Montreal Cognitive Assessment,The Trail Making Test; Verbal Fluency). Quality of life will be evaluated using the SF-36 Health Survey

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

60 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

2 or more falls within 6 months prior to the beginning of the study

Aged 60-85 years

Able to walk for 5 minutes unassisted

Adequate hearing and vision capabilities.

Stable medication for the past 1 month and anticipated over a period of 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

Psychiatric co-morbidity

Clinical diagnosis of dementia or other severe cognitive impairment (MMSE<24)

History of stroke, traumatic brain injury or other neurological disorders (other than PD and MCI, for those groups)

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01732653

Locations

Belgium

Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Leuven, Belgium

Israel

Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

Tel Aviv, Israel, 64239

Italy

Department of Neurosciences Universita Degli Studi Di Genova, Italy

Genova, Italy

Netherlands

Department of Geriatric Medicine and Neurology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center The Netherlands